Stellarator: An alternative to the tokamak

The world's largest stellarator

The advanced stellaratorWendelstein 7-X, housed at the IPP Greifswald campus began operations in December 2015. Wendelstein 7-X is an engineering and modelling feat, not only because it is the world’s largest stellarator with a diameter of around 16 meters but also because it is expected to be able to confine the 100-million-degree Celsius plasma discharges for up to 30 minutes. Among other things, EUROfusion researchers are investigating the device to determine the suitability of a stellarator concept for a power plant. Visit the IPP webpage on Wendelstein 7-X to learn more.

Quick facts

Major plasma radius: 5,5 metres

Minor plasma radius: 0,53 metre

Magnetic field: 3 tesla

Pulse length: max. 30 minutes

Plasma heating: 14 megawatts

Plasma volume: 30 cubic metres

Plasma mixture: Hydrogen, Deuterium

Plasma temperature: 60 - 130 million degrees Celcius

The first helium plasma

A short documentary captures the atmosphere during the operational start of the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device. Video by Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik.

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Acknowledgement

This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training program 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and options expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commision.